Preserve the public’s water access to the Hampton River

Save Sunset Boat Ramp group is striving to protect a priceless asset for not only citizens and businesses of Hampton, but for the region as well

In a Nov. 8 opinion column, the efforts to save the Sunset Public Boat Ramp in Hampton by the Facebook group “Save Sunset Boat Ramp” was labeled as a “David and Goliath story wrapped inside of a conspiracy story.” This statement was made to make it appear as if the SSBR is against Bluewater LLC, which is far from the truth.

The effort of the SSBR is about preserving water access to the Hampton River and Sunset Creek, which is an invaluable strategic asset to not only the city of Hampton, but the surrounding areas. It provides economic, safety support and quality of life issues for the multiple cities and counties surrounding the area. It is about preserving a priceless asset for not only the citizens and businesses of Hampton, but for the region as well.

The history of this controversy spans 17 years, two city managers, several city councils and several mayors. Lack of transparency, deals made by city officials without the authority to do so, and a failure to allow the neighbors to provide input to the advisory committee — while allowing Bluewater to present to the same committee — has led to the lack in faith of our officials and in the process.

In early 2020, Bluewater submitted to the city an unsolicited proposal to purchase the boat ramp and parking lots, with a proposed price of $536,000. The city refuses to allow access by any party to this proposal.

In 2009, the city manager advised council $1.2 million would not be enough to replace the ramp. The sale price, if there is a sale, should be the replacement cost of the ramp. An inquiry of surrounding locality assessor’s office proved they use replacement value as the assessment, which is clearly not what Hampton uses.

The timeline of the recent proposed sale and actions are shown below:

The city failed to post the lots for re-zoning. The notice to the neighbors meeting was mailed on May 26 with a neighbors meeting date of June 1, planning commission of June 4 and Council Meeting of June 10.

The proffer mailed to the neighbors clearly stated Bluewater already owned the ramp and lots. They did not.

The public notice for the sale of the boat ramp only showed the numbered addresses of 21, 90 & 92 Marina Road.

Emergency services were not notified of the proposed impending sale.

The planning department acknowledged they were asked to fast-track the matter to be on council’s agenda for June 10.

Bluewater owns the Herbert House and received of benefit of WM Jordan bearing the costs of $194,000 to restore the structure. Despite the price paid for restoration, the property is only assessed at $3,100 per year, a huge property tax savings for the past 17 years.

For the following reasons, the Sunset Boat Ramp should remain public property:

Rezoning the parking lots is contrary to the city’s master plan. It expands the manufacturing footprint into an established residential neighborhood.

Rezoning the parking lots will devalue the residential properties that surround its area by at least 10-15% and reduce their saleability.

When the civil suit was non-suited, any claim in the courts of the city having an obligation to sell the ramp was forfeited.

The city is in a spending freeze and we are in a pandemic that has impacted revenues.

It is not fiscally responsible to proceed with this sale at this time.

The boat ramp is the only immediate access for public safety marine vessels on/to the Hampton Creek.

Water access is in high demand throughout the United States and certainly in Hampton. Hampton owns an extremely valuable resource whose value will only increase. Citizens have an obligation to take an active part in the decision-making process carried out by our elected officials. Elected officials have the responsibility to listen to and respond to public opinion.